About ToxicTrailers.com

ToxicTrailers.com was launched after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when the government spent more than $2 billion on FEMA trailers with high levels of formaldehyde that sickened thousands of people. The FEMA trailer tragedy exposed what is a widespread problem in RVs, mobile homes, modular buildings and even conventional buildings that use pressed wood products. Unfortunately, as we approach the tenth anniversary of Katrina, formaldehyde regulations are not being enforced in the U.S., and people's health is at risk. If you are having burning eyes, congestion, sore throat, coughing, breathing difficulties, frequent sinus infections or rashes, and difficulties concentrating, you may have a formaldehyde problem. For questions or to share your story, write 4becky@cox.net.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Response to toxic RV post

A response to Sherry: I don't know if RV dealers are required by law to discuss and disclose formaldehyde risks or if just having the notice posted inside hidden behind the hot water heater or in vanity cabinet is considered adequate "consumer protection," but I would certainly look into that - can she get her money back because of lack of disclosure? ... as well as if there are laws that allow conditional or non-conditional returns within certain number of days or limited number of months ...
They will likely argue that these vehicles are recreational and not meant for full-time or long-term habitation which was one of the manufacturers arguments regarding the travel trailers they sold to FEMA (while knowing full-well that's how FEMA intended to use them ...)
Meanwhile, open all the windows (especially at night while sleeping), run the AC, try to stay outside as much as possible, use "green" septic tank cleaner because the usual septic tank cleaner is made with formaldehyde - avoid using bug spray inside, don't smoke inside ... some plants are supposed to be better at absorbing formaldehyde etc while others argue to avoid indoor plants cuz they increase indoor humidity ...
Other culprits could be the chemicals that they use to make things fire retardant which can often make animals, people, sick. There are VOC's in carpets so maybe covering furniture with allergen proofing sheet or mattress cover might help. Remove any carpet that came with the vehicle ...
Another thing to look at would be hydrogen sulfide off-gassing if their septic tank connection is not deep enough.
Basically I would say start building alternative dwelling and get out of the there ... it might be ok for someone else but if she is sensitive to formaldehyde or other chemicals off-gassing, while the off-gassing may decrease as months pass, as we have seen even 10 year old trailers often still tested with significantly elevated formaldehyde levels, and chemical sensitivities tend to get worse not better ...
Dr. Heidi Sinclair

Warning: RVS and mobile homes may be hazardous to your health!!

Imagine that you have just lost your home in a natural disaster, and are now waiting to get a FEMA trailer for temporary housing. The fact is, you and your family might be better off in a tent or living with friends and relatives, even if it is crowded.

After Hurricane Katrina, FEMA purchased about 102,000 travel trailers at a cost of $2.6 billion to house the victims of the nation’s largest natural disaster. It turns out that the vast majority of these trailers have excessive levels of formaldehyde. See the results of testing done by the CDC that were announced Feb. 29, 2008 at the website http://cdc.gov/nceh/ehhe/trailerstudy/ or just Google CDC formaldehyde FEMA study. This website also has links to information for residents and health care practitioners.

From the very beginning people who received FEMA trailers after Katrina reported experiencing problems such as irritated eyes, breathing problems, bloody noses, headaches, nausea, frequent respiratory infections and skin rashes. We know one family that moved from the FEMA trailer into a storage shed on their property because their daughter threw up every time she spent any time in the trailer. Another man sleeping in his driveway next to his trailer said, “My FEMA trailer is killing me!” One couple experienced such heavy chest congestion combined with nose bleeds that they abandoned their FEMA trailer to sleep in their truck.

The CDC testing confirmed three earlier rounds of testing done by Sierra Club in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama in 2006 and 2007 with test kits from Advanced Chemical Sensors. Out of 69 tests, 61 were over 0.1 ppm which represents 88 percent of the trailers tested. The tests used 0.1 ppm as the concentration above which health impacts are expected. However, much lower levels are recommended for long-term exposure. The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) Minimal Risk Levels are 0.04 ppm for 1-14 days, 0.03 for 14-364 days and 0.008 ppm for 365 or more days exposure. The lowest of the 69 Sierra Club tests was 0.04. The highest test was 0.39.

As you will see by reading the blogs on this page, the formaldehyde problem is not confined to just RVs and mobile homes purchased by FEMA. Manufacturers state that they didn't do anything differently for RVs and mobile homes sold to FEMA than those sold to the general public. People across the country are reporting formaldehyde problems in not just campers and manufactured housing, but regular homes, offices, churches and schools.

For an in-depth look at this issue including how FEMA and the ATSDR tried to coverup the problem rather than respond to a major public health disaster, see the hearing transcript from the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform at http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1413.